Back-band buckle.



PATENTED DEG. 1'7, 1907.

J'. H. B. BUTTS. BACK BAND BUCKLE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1o, 1906.

Y witness rm: NnRRls PETERS co., wAsmNaruN, n. c4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. B. BUTTS, OF PICKARD, GEORGIA.

BACK-BAND BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907'.

Application led August l0, 1906. Serial No. 330,089.

. novel construction of back band buckle.

- der the tension of the spring 6.

The structure of the buckle including the present invention is advantageous in that it affords a peculiar and effective means for connecting the same with the back band and furthermore involves peculiar means for con necting the trace chain, with the buckle in such a way as to obviate likelihood of disengagement therefrom and also in such a way as t'o relieve the draft on the back of the animal, under certain conditions of service.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description'and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a back band embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view ,through the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification. Eig. 4 embodies a vertical section of the modified form of the means for connecting the buckle with the back band.

lorresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. Y

Specifically describingthe invention, the back band is indicated at l, and the buckle comprising the invention at 2. The buckle 2 consists of a plate formed with a vertical casing 3 on its outer side, in which is arranged a shank 4 of a hook 5 movably mounted in said housing and normally held in a predetermined'position by means of a spring 6 which bears against the head formed at the upper end of the shank 4, said. spring being also a`rranged in` the housing or casing 3. An eX- tension 7 projects from the lower end of the plate or buckle body 2 and closes the lower end of the housing 3, the mouth of the hook 5 being normally closed by the extension 7 when said hook is in its normal position un- The hook 5 is adapted to engage with the trace chain in the customary way to support said chain, disengagement of the chain from the hook being prevented by the spring 6 which cooperates with the hook in such a way as to hold it with its mouth normally closed by the extension 7. However, it will be seen that by the spring mounting of the hook 5, the latter may be held down readily to disengage the chain therefrom. Another advantage derived from the mounting of the hook 5 re sides in the fact that when the trace chain is engaged with the hook, the latter constitutes an elastic or spring connection between the trace chain and the back band, and the draft animal is relieved from strain which might be caused by sudden pull or draft on the back.

The means provided for securing the buckle to the back bandY is peculiar. The buckle 2 is formed at its vertical edges with vertical outwardly projecting fianges 8, each of which is provided with a vertical slot 9 in which operates the end portion of a cross bar 10. The cross bar l0 has its ends passed through the slots 9 and bent outwardly to prevent displacement thereof from the flanges 8, Said cross bar is movable vertically having a slight amount of play in the slots 9 and the plate from which the buckle 2 is formed is provided with a transverse opening 11 adjacent to the bar l0. In actual use, the back bandpasses through the opening 11 over the crossv bar 10 and thence hack through the opening l1. The normal tension on the cross bar l() by reason of its connection with the back band pulls the cross bar into such a position that the same clamps the back band firmly against the longitudinal edge4 of the opening 11, more effectively preventing slipping of the back band through the buckle. To facilitate the above the cross bar 10 may be provided with a plurality of projections 12 extending from its upper edge to positively engage with the back band.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig, 3 is substantially the same in form as the construction shown in Figs. l and 2 save that the hook 5a is mounted in a slightly different manner so far as regards its connection with` the housing'or casing 3a. In this construction also the cross bar l()a adjacent to the opening 11a of the buckle, is pivotally mounted in the flanges 8, being formed with a plurality of projections 12, however, to engage with the back band in an obvious manner.

Fig. 4 embodies a further modification in which the hack band is attached to the buckle in a diderent way from any heretolore described. In this instance the upper portion of the buckle is 'formed with an opening 13 across which extend spaced cross bars 14. The back band is passed irst over the upper cross bar and the lower cross bar, thence under the lower cross bar and up again over the uppermost cross bar, This arrangement causes the back band to fric tionally bind against itself in order to positively hold the same in connection with the buckle. The construction is simple and. is very advantageous under certain conditions.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 a longitudinally disposed spring rod 15 is slidably mounted upon the outer side of the casing or housing 3, the upper end of the rod extending inwardly within the casing and being attached to the shank 4f of the hook 5 so as to move simultaneously therewith while the opposite end extends through an opening in the extension 7 and engages the extremity of the hook 5. It found desirable a loop 16 may be formed by crimping an intermediate portion ol the rod, the said loop being designed to receive the plow line. When the hook 5 is drawn outwardly against the tension of the spring 6 the lower end of the rod 15 slides through the opening in the extension 7 until the crimped portion 16 abuts against the latter. That portion of the rod 15 projecting beyond the extension 7 can then be readily bent inwardly and deflected owing to its spring action in such a manner as to enable a chain or like member to be engaged with or disengaged from the hook 5.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a back band buckle, the combination of a plate, means at one end of the plate for connecting the same with a back band, a housing at the opposite end of the plate, a guide member carried by the housing on the exterior thereof, a hook having the shank portion thereof slidably mounted within the housing, a spring located within the housing and operating to normally hold the hook in a predetermined position, and. an extension projecting from the plate and serving the double function ol closing one end ol: the housing and also of normally closing the mouth of the hook.

2. In a back band buckle, the combination oil a body portion, means at one end ol the body portion for forming a connection with the back band, a housing at the opposite end ot the body portion ot the buckle, a longitudinally extending rod on the exterior ol' the housing, said rod being provided with a guide member, a hook having the shank thereoip slidably mounted within the housing, and a spring located within the housing' and coperating with the shank to normally hold the hook in a predetermined position.

In testimony whereof I allx my signature in presence ot two witnesses.

JOHN H. B. BUTTS. [L s] Witnesses E. R. INGRAM, C. E. BETHEL. 

